Gallagher described the Gaza deal as a positive step but warned of its vulnerabilities, amid broader discussions on global conflicts and interfaith relations.
Newsroom (15/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a measured endorsement of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, praised the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered agreement on Tuesday, crediting President Donald Trump’s administration while stressing the need for sustained international effort to secure enduring peace. Speaking at the 16th Festival of Diplomacy, Gallagher described the deal as a positive step but warned of its vulnerabilities, amid broader discussions on global conflicts and interfaith relations.
The event, titled “Vatican Diplomacy and State Diplomacy,” was held at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See and moderated by journalist Giovanna Pancheri. Gallagher shared the stage with Ambassador Giampiero Massolo, president of Mundys and chair of the festival’s scientific committee. It followed opening remarks by Italy’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto.
Gaza Accord: A Fragile Foundation
The conversation opened with the recent signing of the first phase of the White House plan in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, marking a tentative halt to hostilities in the Gaza Strip after two years of intense conflict. “It’s good that the Gaza agreement has been reached, and we must recognize in this regard the commitment of U.S. President Trump,” Gallagher said. “But on the other hand, we all know it’s still a fragile balance, and now much work will be needed from everyone, especially mediators and involved actors.”
The Holy See, Gallagher noted, has not served as a direct mediator but has consistently advocated for dialogue and adherence to international law. He highlighted the Vatican’s “public diplomacy” through appeals from Pope Francis and his successor, Pope Leo XIV, as well as practical support for Christian communities in Gaza. This includes daily phone calls from Francis to the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City and aid via the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
“In these years, we’ve learned that peace is one of the options—a decision we might call transcendental—but it must be followed by other choices and agreements to give it substance,” Gallagher added.
Massolo, the former Italian diplomat, pointed to lingering weaknesses in the deal’s second phase, including Hamas’s disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip—issues intertwined amid stark power imbalances. He noted the absence of a clear Palestinian statehood path and the deal’s origins in military leverage, per Trump’s approach of using arms to pave the way for diplomacy. Yet, Massolo saw potential in shared interests, citing the Abraham Accords as a foundational precedent for regional normalization.
Interfaith Ties Strained but Irreversible
The Gaza war has occasionally strained Vatican relations with other faiths, particularly Judaism, Gallagher acknowledged, calling for a “path of reconciliation.” With Islam, progress under Francis’s papacy includes strengthened Sunni ties via Egypt’s Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Shiite engagement through visits like the 2021 Iraq trip and meeting with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
Emphasizing continuity, Gallagher declared the Second Vatican Council’s 1965 declaration Nostra Aetate—which reshaped Catholic relations with non-Christian religions—”irreversible.” “Our religious sources must be sources of reconciliation,” he said. “There’s still much to do, but we move forward.”
Ukraine: A More Complex Quagmire
Turning to the Russia-Ukraine war, Gallagher described it as “more complex than the Middle Eastern situation,” with peace “not yet in sight.” Amid multilateral paralysis, the Vatican’s role remains facilitating contacts, including humanitarian missions led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi for prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of Ukrainian children—areas yielding modest successes under Pope Leo XIV.
Massolo contrasted this with the Middle East, where dynamics, though protracted, have shown resolutive potential. In Ukraine, he said, mutual interests are lacking, leaving leverage in Trump’s hands, particularly over Moscow.
Forgotten Conflicts and Papal Priorities
Gallagher drew attention to overlooked crises capturing scant media focus: Sudan’s civil war, Democratic Republic of Congo violence, Sahel instability, Madagascar unrest, and Myanmar’s turmoil, where local Catholic communities persist in aid work.
He previewed Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming trips: to Turkey for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, fostering ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Ankara as a key player; and to Lebanon, fulfilling a pledge from Francis tied to electing a new president and stabilizing the region.
Historic Papal Visit to Quirinale
Closing on a high note, Gallagher expressed “great satisfaction” with Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural foreign visit earlier Tuesday to Italy’s Quirinale Palace and President Sergio Mattarella. “It was a day of great satisfaction for the Holy See,” he said. “The harmony between us and Italy on the theme of peace was clearly visible.”
The dialogue underscored the Vatican’s quiet persistence in a fractured world, blending moral suasion with pragmatic diplomacy amid escalating global tensions. As Gallagher concluded, peace demands not just accords but ongoing, collective resolve.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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